Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally make a cute match. But watch out for their bite. They have been touring the country doing relationship-centric standup comedy based largely on their marriage of 13 years. Last Friday, they delivered their hilarious wisdom to an eager crowd at Monterey’s Golden State Theater.
Mullally is most well-known for her role as Karen Walker—a drunken, elitist, yet lovable character on the long-running sitcom Will and Grace. Offerman joined her on a few episodes, but is much more recognizable as Ron Swanson, his grumpy, anti-government persona on Parks and Recreation. Mullally has played alongside him on Parks many times, guest starring as his sex-crazed, hilariously dangerous ex-wife.
The two have been acting together for over a decade, so it’s no surprise to see them taking the stage together on their headlining tour, Summer of 69: No Apostrophe. They mix a lot of song into their stand up—Mullally on her ukulele and Offerman on his guitar.
Mullally even opened for herself, starting the show with her bandmate Stephanie Hunt in their indie duo Nancy and Beth, both singing sweetly while playing their respective ukuleles.
Once Offerman joined the stage (and Stephanie left), sweet turned a little dirty as they began with a song defining “69.” Although there was no need, they set the tone of their gig out loud: “This is a show about love, where snakes and squirrels are giving each other tiny handjobs and Chris Pratt is president.”
Then they went into politics, or rather, sang about Trump, “a cheese-encrusted Nazi who wants to f*** his own daughter.” When they asked the audience if anyone was voting for Donald Trump, a middle-aged couple in the front row tentatively raised their hands. Mullally said she could guess from the unpleasant looks on their faces during the song.
About 20 minutes into the show that couple got up and left, and Offerman saw the bright side: “Now we can talk about fisting.”
The show was light on audience participation (which some appreciate), but at one point they did ask a young couple to volunteer themselves to the stage. Once at their mercy, the couple was asked a series of multiple choice questions to determine their compatibility, such as “What is the sexiest food? Chocolate-dipped strawberries, champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne, or a donut with a hot dog shoved in it?” Or “Would you rather eat, pray, love or poop?” To which Offerman added, “all the same thing.”
They read out a very funny set of love letters to one another that were supposedly written when Mullally was at the grocery store one day and the time apart was too much. Offerman became a mess after minutes without her—“I tried to pour myself cereal and I ate a bowl of thumbtacks.”
They also did a piece reading documentation of their own respective sides in a real estate argument about cutting down two oak trees. But the fight wasn’t really believable. Somehow it seems like even if and when they do get into relationship tiffs, they are more likely to be up than down.
Holding the audience’s attention steady, they switched subjects now and again, singing about topics such as celebrities—“Hollywood’s glittering holes”—and even bringing their poodle on stage.
They attribute their marriage’s success to being compatible and liking the same things. “We actually like each other,” Mullally offered. “What a concept.”

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